Microsoft Testing New Search Buttons For Windows 11 Taskbar

Microsoft is testing out three new search options for the Windows 11 taskbar. Additionally, the tech firm is planning to launch new features such as a notification badge for widgets, alongside a few bug fixes.

Microsoft’s Windows 11 Insider Preview build 25158 for the Dev Channel brings with it a major taskbar change. It is currently experimenting with three types of search buttons—the standard search icon, a small search bar, and a large search bar. Windows Insiders can submit their feedback so Microsoft can finalise the taskbar changes.

Currently, Windows 11 features a search button on the taskbar. It can be switched to a search logo by disabling the search button. To check out the new search bar options, users will need to reboot their computers after updating to build 25158. Microsoft states that not all Windows Insiders will be able to try out the new search buttons even after the reboot. Do note that since this is an experimental feature, it may not ship with Windows 11.

Additionally, Microsoft has announced that it is adding more dynamic Widgets to the Windows 11 taskbar with notification badging for widgets. This feature will not be immediately available for all Windows Insiders since the tech giant is evaluating the feedback before a wider rollout. This is how the new notification badge will look like:

Clicking on the Widgets board will open up a banner at the top, which will include additional information about it.

Here are some of the general fixes included in the latest build:

• Fixed an issue causing some Insiders to experience bugchecks with error message KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED in NetAdapterCx.sys in recent flights.
• Fixed an issue which was leading some PCs hanging at black screen when resuming from a low power state in recent flights.
• Fixed an issue believed to generally be impacting performance across Windows shell experiences in the last few flights.
• Fixed an issue where the Mica material and Acrylic blur effect was rendering incorrectly in OS surfaces like the Start menu, Notification Center and other areas sometimes in recent flights.